Russia and Turkey in talks on Turkish stream again

Russia and Turkey are discussing the construction of two lines of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline. The second line is designed for southwestern European consumers, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Russia 24.

“Turkey is interested in the direct flow of gas, bypassing other transit countries. In that framework, at least one Turkish Stream leg is envisioned for Turkish consumers. In general, we are currently talking about the construction of two lines. The second line is for southwestern European consumers which can also be laid under the Black Sea and routed through Turkey,” Mr Novak said.

The Turkish Stream project was designed to stop gas transit via troublesome Ukraine. It was frozen after the detonation of the Moscow-Ankara relations in November 2015. The talks on the project were relaunched during the visit of the Turkish delegation to Moscow at the beginning of this week.